One note, before my children were in school, our summer schedule really was no different than our spring, winter, or fall schedules. I am sure this was in large part due to the fact that Brayden was not a terribly flexible baby or toddler. We had our disruptions, but our main schedule was the same. I didn’t really start creating a summer schedule until Brayden started school and our summers became something that could be distinguished from other times of the year.

Another note, for a baby, I do not change the daily schedule in summer significantly. I worked my older children’s summer schedule around the baby’s schedule. I had them do nap and rest time while the baby did nap. I had them eat meals when the baby was used to eating meals (or around the baby’s meals if needed). So as you plan your summer schedule, note when naps are and when meals are. Plan meals and rest/nap time for everyone else around those times. Also plan Independent Play around those times if needed. Then you can plan out the schedule for the family and work the rest of baby’s things in around what the family is doing.

There are some things I want to point out. I view summer as a more flexible time of year. I always remember that my schedule is to serve me and my family. If we are on a walk and we take longer than 30 minutes, I don’t stress about it. If we are having a lot of fun with the learning activity and it takes over free play, I don’t mind (that is one reason I put free play there–so we could borrow from it if needed). If I don’t have anything ready for learning time, free play becomes an hour instead of 30 minutes. On the other hand, if the children don’t get their chores done in time to go on a walk that day, it doesn’t happen. It is a logical consequence.

Don’t live and die by the schedule. Have a game plan, but be flexible as needed. Do remember, respect sleep times and meal times as much as possible. Doing so goes a long way for helping your child be flexible.

School-Aged Children Schedule

This was Brayden’s schedule one summer:

7:00 AM–Wake up. Get ready for day.

7:30 AM–Sibling Playtime

8:00 AM–Breakfast

8:30 AM–Music/learning time

9:00 AM–Practice Piano

9:30 AM–Chores

10:00 AM–Walk/bike ride

10:30 AM–Play outside

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Learning Activity

1:00 PM–Free Play

1:30 PM–Sustained Silent Reading

2:00 PM–Rest Time

2:30 PM–Independent Playtime

3:30 PM–Free Playtime (at times, TV time or video game time would happen in this block)

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:30 PM–Bedtime

This was Brayden’s schedule one summer. This was designed to be done when the weather was cooler outside:

7:00 AM–Wake up. Get ready for day.

7:30 AM–Sibling Playtime

8:00 AM–Breakfast

8:30 AM–Music/learning time

9:00 AM–Practice Piano

9:30 AM–Chores

10:00 AM–Walk/bike ride

10:30 AM–Independent Playtime

11:30 AM–Learning Time

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Outside Time

1:30 PM–Sustained Silent Reading

2:00 PM–Rest Time

2:30 PM–Free Play/Outside time

4:30 PM–Free Playtime (at times, TV time or video game time would happen in this block)

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:30 PM–Bedtime

This was Brayden’s and Kaitlyn’s schedule one summer:

7:00 AM–Wake up. Get ready for day.

7:30 AM–Practice Piano/Sibling Playtime

8:00 AM–Breakfast

8:30 AM–Chores

9:00 AM–Walk/Bike ride

9:30 AM–Sports practice

10:00 AM–Outside Time

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Learning Activity

1:00 PM–Free Play

1:30 PM–Sustained Silent Reading

2:00 PM–Rest Time

2:30 PM–Independent Playtime

3:30 PM–Free Playtime (at times, TV time or video game time would happen in this block)

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:30 PM–Bedtime

Preschool-Aged Schedule

This was Kaitlyn’s schedule one summer:

7:30 AM–Wake up. Sibling Playtime

8:00 AM–Breakfast

8:30 AM–Music/learning time

9:00 AM–Get ready

9:30 AM–Chores

10:00 AM–Walk/bike ride

10:30 AM–Play outside

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Learning Activity

1:00 PM–Free Play

1:30 PM–Sustained Silent Reading

2:00 PM–Nap Time

4:00 PM–Get up/Independent Playtime

5:00 PM–Free Playtime (at times, TV time or video game time would happen in this block)

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:30 PM–Bedtime

This was McKenna’s schedule one summer:

7:00 AM–Wake up. Get ready for day.

7:30 AM–Sibling Playtime

8:00 AM–Breakfast

8:30 AM–Chores

9:00 AM–Walk/Bike ride

9:30 AM–Sports practice

10:00 AM–Outside Time

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Learning Activity

1:00 PM–Free Play

1:30 PM–Sustained Silent Reading

2:00 PM–Rest Time/Nap

3:30 PM–Independent Playtime

4:30 PM–Free Playtime (at times, TV time or video game time would happen in this block)

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:00 PM–Bedtime

Toddler-Aged Schedule

This was McKenna’s schedule one summer:

8:00 AM–Wake up/Breakfast

8:30 AM–Music/learning time

9:00 AM–Get ready

9:30 AM–Chores

10:00 AM–Walk/bike ride

10:30 AM–Play outside

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Learning Activity

1:00 PM–Free Play

1:30 PM–Nap

4:30 PM–Get up/Independent Playtime

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:00 PM–Bedtime

This was Brinley’s schedule one summer:

8:00 AM–Wake up/Breakfast

8:30 AM–Get ready

9:00 AM–Walk/Bike ride

9:30 AM–Outside Time

11:00 AM–Independent Playtime

12:00 Noon–Lunch

12:30 PM–Learning Activity

1:00 PM–Free Play

1:30 PM–Nap

5:00 PM–Free Playtime

5:30 PM–Dinner

6:00 PM–Family Time

7:30 PM–Get Ready for Bed

8:00 PM–Bedtime

Share your summer schedule in the comments! I will add them to this post for people to reference in the future.

valplowman

Valerie, also known as The Babywise Mom, is the mother to four children. She has been blogging on Babywise and general parenting since 2007. She has a degree in technical writing and loves using those skills to help parents be the best parents they can be! Read her book, The Babywise Mom Nap Guide, to get help on sleep from birth through the preschool years. You can also find her writing at Babywise.life, Today Parenting, and Her View From Home. Read more about Valerie and her family on the About page. Follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more tips and helps.

2 Comments

Mara Kreiling

June 20, 2014 / 5:42 PM

These schedules are very helpful! I'd love to see other also. I feel like on weekends it's just a free for all with our 16 month old twins (this is year round since I work full time). I've been thinking I need to add more structure to the day in addition to the regular meal time, nap time and bedtime!